Parents deal with racism from family

Dear Annie: My husband and I adopted our daughter at birth. When my mother-in-law found out that "Amanda" is biracial, she informed my husband that we were no longer welcome in her home. Initially, she admitted it was simple racism, but now she says it's because she can never accept a child "not of my own blood." When our daughter was 3, Mom visited and told Amanda that she was a "friend," not a relative.

Looks worse than it is...

No one was hurt in this two-car traffic accident that occurred around 3:30 p.m. Thursday on South Broad Street (U.S. 521) near Historic Camden. Lt. Mike Stone of the Camden Police Department said the accident occurred after one driver attempted to make a left turn onto Ehrenclou Drive and struck another vehicle. The car was traveling north on Highway 521 and made the turn in front of oncoming traffic heading south. "Basically a car turned left in front of the other and they couldn't avoid each other and collided," Stone said. He said no one was ...

Government center decorates for Santa

The Kershaw County Government Center has looked a little more like Santa's workshop lately as county offices have been decked out with candy canes, garland, and all kinds of other holiday decorations.

Ferdinand Vincent "Cort" Marzullo, IV

A memorial service for Ferdinand Vincent "Cort" Marzullo, IV, 40, of Camden will be held at Grace Episcopal Church Friday, December 16, 2011 at 2:00 pm. The family will receive friends following the service. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made in Mr. Marzullo's memory to the Marzullo Educational Trust, C/O TD Bank, 315 East DeKalb Camden, SC 29020.

Debates as un-reality TV

Karl Rove, a star political strategist, is outraged that Donald Trump, a star real-estate mogul and reality show host, is staging a reality show with real Republican presidential candidates and calling it a debate. Yet, with all due respect, Trump is only exploiting a process that political strategists like Rove already hijacked.

Let them clean toilets

WASHINGTON -- It is a rare day when Al Sharpton emerges as the voice of sagacity, but when Newt Gingrich has the microphone, all things are possible.

Blazing TRAILS

Lugoff-Elgin Middle School (L-EMS) is hosting Jennifer Lanier (standing), a graduate student in the Library and Information Science School at the University of South Carolina. Lanier is completing an internship this fall at L-EMS with Mrs. Anne C. Lemieux. Here, Lanier works with Julie Stockman's 8th grade ELA classes on the steps of the "Research Process." This is the first of several lessons Lanier will be completing with this group. Lanier is utilizing TRAILS (Tool for Real-Time Assessment of Information Literacy Skills) to identify strengths and weaknesses in the information-seeking skills of the students. A pre- and post-assessment is ...

The sounds of SMS

Leslie M. Stover Middle School students participated in the 2011 SC All State Chorus. These students auditioned and were accepted in the Spring of 2011 as a part of the Stover Middle Chorus. In the fall, some Stover and Lugoff-Elgin High School students had to learn a new repertoire of music for the ACDA All State Chorus Festival at Converse College in Spartanburg, SC. Members include Haylee Pagan, Moriah Payne, Ty Morgan, Kayce Robinson, Kendra Mills, Gabriel Medina, Montanna Marsh, Emily Murphy, and Kaitlyn Fuller. Stover Middle is very proud.

Rally for reading!

Tax tips for Dec. 12, 2011

If you earned income in the last few years but you didn't file a tax return because your wages were below the filing requirement, the Internal Revenue Service may have some money for you. The IRS also has millions of dollars in checks that are returned each year as undeliverable.

Military briefs for Dec. 12, 2011

Air Force Airman Kenneth A. Brandon graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

Leon Robinson

Leon Robinson, of Camden, husband of Sally Robinson, died December 10, 2011. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his son, David Robinson and his wife, Paula Belmar; daughters, Rebecca Robinson and Katherine Furgason; grandchildren, India, Robbie, and Mia Robinson, and Sophie Cooper; a brother, Eli Robinson and his wife Lila, of Long Island, NY.

Betty Altman

A memorial service for Betty Jean Roberts Altman, 83, of Camden formerly of Atlanta, GA will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made in Mrs. Altman's memory to the Walter M. Crowe Animal Shelter, 460 S. Fair Street, Camden, SC 29020.

Happy 60th Anniversary!

Bill and Luna Clark were married December 10, 1951 and are celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary. They live on Bayview Drive in Lugoff and have two children, Barry Dean Clark and Norma Lee Wilson. They have four grandchildren Michelle Clark, Justin Lee Wilson, Morgan Lee Wilson and Zackary Lee Wilson.

School menus -- Dec. 9, 2011

The following are menus for Kershaw County schools for the week of Dec. 12-16:

Species statistics are good news for South Carolina’s standings

By Austin Jenkins

Carolina Cup-date on ticket sales

Even though the Carolina Cup is more than a month away, reserved parking spaces are selling at a brisk pace.

Royals AAU teams list tryout dates

The Royals AAU youth basketball teams will host tryouts in both Camden and Bishopville for its boys and girls' teams.

Carolina Cup tickets now on sale

Invitations for the Carolina Cup steeplechase races were sent out to those on the organization's mailing list last Friday. And tickets and parking spaces for the event are now on sale.